Overstitch sewing-machine.



H. EVANS.

oveRsmcH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 26| |9|7 A 9262976., l Patented Apr. 16, 1.91.8.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

4H. EVANS.

OVERSTITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 2s. |917.

Patented Apr. 16, '1918.

' II. Ev/INS. ovEIzsTITcH sEwING MACHINE. Y

v APPLICATION FILED APN. 2s. I9I7. v

yPatented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- WIN N UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTCE.

HUMPI-IREY EVANS, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO HOLEPROOF HOSIERY CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

OVERSTITCI-I SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. .Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

Application led April 26, 1917. Serial No. 164,617.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HUMPHREY EVANS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful In'iprovements in Overstitch Sewing-lViachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, formingv a part thereof. p

rlhis invention relates more particularly to means for holding and feeding the work to the stitching mechanism, means for trimming rav.v or unfinished edges of the fabric after it is secured in place and before it is ovcrstitched, and means for severing the chain or bonds between adjoining sections or pieces of work, and to the arrangement of the holding and feeding means relative to the stitching mechanism.

Its main objects are to feed one piece of work after another to the stitching mechanism without interruption; to facilitate j placing and securing the work in proper position on the work holder and carrier; to avoid soiling the work; and generally to improve the construction and operation of machines of the class to which the invention pertains.

It consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts as hereinafter particularly described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, showing a machine embodying the invention and specially designed for sewing reinforcements on giove fingers, like characters designate the sameparts in the several4 figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of the machine, the cover plate over parts of the stitching mechanism being removed; Fig. 2 is a vertica section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, and side elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, showing means for manually turning the work carrier either backward or forward; Figs. 4 to 8 inclusive, are detail views on an enlarged scale, showing a portion of the work carrier in section, and a part of one of the work holding clamps, and illustrating the trimming, stitching, chain cutting, work releasing and work stripping operations of thev machine; Fig. 9 is a vertical section on the line 9 9, Fig. 1, showing the clamp opening device and the stripping device; Fig. 10

is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing the edge lifter in relation to the chaining point; and Fig. 11 is a side elevation of the edge lifter and chaining point in connection with a portion of the work carrier and clamps, as viewed from the right relative to Figs. 1, 2 and 10.

The machine comprises a base 1, adapted to be screwed or otherwise attached to and supported onA a table or shelf 2, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the front side overhanging the table or shelf 2, the base 1 is formed with a grooved ring 3. On this ring is rotatably mounted an annular or cylindrical work support and carrier 4, formed on its lower side or end with a tongue 5, freely fitting the groove in the ring 3 and confined therein by a split or sectional retaining ring 6. Just above the ring 6 the carrier 4 is formed or provided on the outside with a gear or rack 7 with which a pinion 8 meshes on the rear side of the carrier. A ratchet wheel 9, attached to the upper side of the pinion 8, is mounted on a stud 10, fastened in and projecting upwardly from the ring 3. The work support and carrier 4 is intermittently turned to feed the work to the stitching mechanism step by step, as hereinafter explained, by a pawl 11, pivoted on an arm 12 of a vertical rockerl shaft 13, and held in yielding engagement with the ratchet wheel by a spring 14. The shaft 13 is provided with an arm 15, having a rollerA at its free end held by a spring 16 in engagement with a crown cam 17 on a hori- Zontal shaft 18, which also serves to actuate the trimmer, stitching mechanism and chain cutter, as hereinafter explained.

The stitching mechanism, which may be like or similar to that used in overstitch sewing machines, comprises a horizontal reciprocating needle bar 19, supported in bearings in a case 20, above and transversely to the cam shaft 18, and extending therefrom transversely over the rearside of the work support and carrier 4. At its front end the bar 19 is provided with a head 21, on which a vertically adjustable slide 22 is guided. To the lower end of the slide 22 the shank of a holder 23 for a needle 24, is adjustably clamped. The slide 22, with the holder 23 and a needle 24, is adjusted vertically by a screw 25, and is secured in adjusted position by a screw 26.- The needle is operated by a cam 27, mounted on the shaft 1S and engaging a forked head 28' on the bar 19;

A looper 29, cooperating with the needle 24 to form an overstitch seam, is carried by a lever 30 pivotally mounted onY a rocker arm 3l, which is actuated by a cam 32 on the Shaft 18, to shift the looper forward and backward across the work held On theA support and carrier 4. An offset of the rocker arm 31 is held in engagement with the cam 32 by a spring 33. The lever 50 is actuated by cams 84` and 35, with which it is held in engagement by a spring 36, to impart up and down and lateral m vements to the looper 29V in properly timed relation Vto the movements of the needle 24. Y

So far as the present invention is concerned, stitching mechanism designed to use ine or two threads, may be used. n the present case, single thread stitching mechanism is illustrated, and the thread therefor is carried, as shown in Fig. 2,` around a tension 37 and over a takeup 3S mountedl on a removable cover 39 of the case 20, which is provided with bearings for the cam shaft 18 and incloses the needle and looper actuating cams. Fromthe take-up the thread passes through a guide, thence over an intermittently operating tension device 4() and through suitably located guides, one on the lower part of the slide 22, and thence back underneath the slide and holder 23 to the needle 24. The tension device 40, which is mounted on and moves with the needle bar V19, is operated to intermittently grip and release the thread by means of a lever 4l, actuated by a cam 42 and held in engagement therewith by a spring The cam shaft is provided with a belt pulley 44, for connecting it with a motor or drive shaft, and is also provided with a hand wheel 45 for turning it independentlyT of the power connectionfto adjust the needle and other parts of the machine.

The work support and carrier 4, is provided on the outer side with a series of pivoted clamps 46 for holding the work in place thereon. These may be of ditferent widths andV variouslyv grouped according to the work to be held in place thereby on the support and carrierA 4.

ln the present case, the machine as constructed andv arranged for sewing reinforcements to glove lingers and thumbs, is provided with a number of wideV clamps grouped together for holding separate thumb blanks or pieces, and a number of groupsA of clamps,each group comprising a wideV clamp and two narrower clamps on each sidev thereof, for holding the linger sections of the` hand blanks er pieces, the wide clamp of each group for holding the fore finger section, and the four narrow clamps for holding the second and third finger sections. The clamps may be pivotally mounted on the support or carrier 4 in any suitable way, and are closed to clasp` and hold the work aga-inst thel carrier by springs 47. The clamps may be manually opened and are held open against the pressure of the springs 47 by pivoted dogs or latches 4S,

engaging with the downwardly eXtend'edf` ends of the clamps below their pivots and formed with outwardly projecting handle arms. As shown, the clamps and dogsv may be provided with pivot pins 49 and 50, fitting, into'horizontal grooves in an outwardly projecting belt 51 on the support and carrier 4, and held in place therein by cap plates fastened to said belt by screws and serving also to confine the springs 47 in place, the belt 51 beingslotted vertically to receive the clamps and dogs or latches, and the cap plates 52 being cut away or notched for the handle arms of the dogs or latches to project outwardly between them.

The workA support or carrier 4 is provided at the top with a thin steel ring `or annular plate 525, opposite the working aces on the upper ends of the clamps. The u-pper edge of the ring or band 53, which runs below and close to the path! of the needle 24, is formed between the clamps 4G withv notches, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

(Dn the right hand side of the machine, a vertically adjustable incline 54, is carried by a bracket on the ring 8 in the path of the outwardly projecting` handle a 'ms of the dogs or latches 4S when they are turned downward into the position shown at the left in Fig. 2, to open the clamps 4G?, said incline being constructed and arranged to turn the handle arms of the dogs or latches upward into the position shown at the right in Fig. 2, to release the clamps and permit the springs 47 to close them before they reach the stitching mechanism.

Onthe oppositeA or left hand side of the machine, a clamp opening` roller is mounted on the ring 3, and is shiftable verticallyinto and out of position to engage with the tail ends of the clamps 46 after they pass the stitching mechanism, and open them, as shown in Fig. 9. The hub of the roller 55 rests on a slotted wedge-shaped or inclined segment 56,. which is interposed between it and an7 outwardly projecting. bearing on the ring 3, and.. through which the pivot stem or ournal 57 ofthe roller passes. This segment is pivoted. concentric with the slot therein, on a projection. from the ring 3 or roller bearing,` and is provided-with a handle arm 58 tolift the roller into opera= tive position inV the path of theflow'er ends ofv the clamps, or lower it: into inoperative position.

To cooperatek withthe clamps 46 inhold ing the work inV place: when foldedover the ring" or band on the upper end or side of the work support or carrier, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the support or carrier is provided on the inside adjacent to said ring or band, with points 59, which for the purpose of facilitating their renewal, may be conveniently attached lto a band made in sections and removably fitted in an undercut slotl in the work support or carrier.

To remove the work from the ring or band 53 and the points 59 after the clamps 46 are opened by the roller 55, a stripping device 60, consisting of a plate formed with vertical and horizontal Wings having inclined edges dii/erging forwardly from a point close to the inner side of the ring or band 53, is carried by an arm 61 extending outwardly over said ring or band, and pivoted to the upper end of a post 62 rising outside of the work support or carrier 4 from the ring 3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. The wider part of the lower horizontal wing of the stripping plate is curved downwardly and inwardly, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8 and 9, over the points 59, so as to withdraw the work therefrom when it is released by the opening of the clamps 46, and is lifted from the ring or band 53 by the upwardly inclined edge of the upper vertical wing of the stripping plate. The pivoted arm 61 on which the stripping plate is carried, permits it tobe turned uwardly out of operative position.

A curved guard wire or rod 63, attached at one end to the post 62, extends therefrom part way around the front side of the work support and carrier, to prevent entanglement of the work with the clamps and springs as it is being placed in position on said support and carrier.

The machine is provided with a trimmer for removing surplus material from and truing the raw edges of the articles or pieces of fabric to be stitched after `they are clamped in position onthe carrier 4. The trimmer` comprises a stationary blade 64, adjustably clamped t0 a bracket 65 on the case 20, with its cutting edge outside 0f and adjacent to the upper edge of the ring or band 53, and a movable blade 66, coperating therewith and adjustably clamped to the front end of a reciprocating bar 67, working in a guide 68, which is pivotally mounted at its rear end upon or concentrically with the cam shaft 18. At its rear end the bar 67 is provided with a roller working in the groove of a cam 69, formed with or attached to the hand wheel 45, or mounted on the shaft 18. The guide 68 is formed with vertically slotted ears, which are connected with one side of the case 20 by screws 70, which permit a limited vertical movement of the guide and of the bar 67 with the movable blade 66. A spring 71, interposed between the guide 68 and an ear or projection on the side of the case 20,

edge of the ring or band 53. As shown in- Figs. 1 and 4, the blade 66 is formed on the side towardl the needle with a projection which constantly bears on the upper face of' the blade 64 and thus maintains the cutting edges of the blades in proper working rela tion/to each other, the edge of the movable bladebeing inclined to the edge of the other blade, as shown in Fig. 1, to work with a shearing cut. A ianged deflecting plate 72, attached to the bracket 65, extends therefrom inwardly over the ring or band 53, and underneath the movable blade 66,v in position to catch the trimmings cut from the work and conduct them away therefrom.

A chaining point 73, .like or similar to those used in overstitch sewing machines,

. for carrying the stitch formed by the needle 24 and looper 29 across the gaps or spaces between separate pieces or sections of the work, is adjustably supported over and across the needle by a telescoping arm 73', projecting forwardly from the case 20 between the trimmer and needle bar, as shown in Figs. 1 and 11.

An edge lifter 74, attached to Jthe bracket 65 between the deflecting plate 72 and the needle, has an upwardly` inclined edge arranoed to turn the trimmed edges of the wor: upwardly and inwardly, and direct them against the inner side of the chaining point 73, by which they will be held in position to be caught by the needle and stitched to the fabric against which they are folded on the ring or vband 53.

The machine is provided with al chain cutter for severing the bonds formedv by the Vstitching mechanism between successive pieces or sections of work. It consists as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, of blades 75, fastened to a vertically movable arm 76, with their cutting edges crossing each other in V-shape. The arm 76 is pivoted at its rear end to the front end of a reciprocating bar 77, working in a guide 78 formed on or attached to the case 20. The cutter is retracted by a cam 7 9,' mounted on the shaft 18, and is yieldingly thrustvforward over and across the ring or band 53 by a spring 80, which yieldingly holds the rearolfset end ofthe bar 77 with the rearV side of said cam, thus avoiding injury to the mechanism in case the cutter in its advance encounters an obstruction on account of `misadjustment or failure of the machine to properly function. The arm 76 is formed below the blades with ank extension 81, which is pressed by a spring 82 against and lightly rides on the upper edge of the ring or band 53, or the work folded over it and on the upper beveledV ends of the clamps 46. The

all

extension S1, which atthe limit of its backward movement by the cam 79 clears the ring orv band 53 and the clamps 46, in its advance movement is directed upwardly over the work bythe beveled ends of the clamps holding; the same, but drops into the spacesbetween the clamps as they pass, and in its advance movements passes under neath the chains connecting successive pieces of work and through opposite notches in the ring` or Yband 53. Y The cutter blades 75 are thus lowered into operative position atthel proper time to sever the chains linking the pieces or sections of work together. The downward movement of the cutter is limited by the'joint between the arm 7 6 and thebar 77,- sothat they extension 8l when it drops wi-ll passthrough the notches in the ring or band 53 without obstruction or interference. Y

For turning the carrier 4 backward, as when the thread breaks, to stitch work which has passed the stitching mechanism, and for turning the carrier forward by hand tofacilitate placinga number of pieces ofy work thereon one after another when the machine is started, a pinion 82 is mounted on the front side of the ring 3 in mesh with the gear or rack 7, as shown in Figs. 1- and 3. The pinion stem or shaftv 83, ,which is journaled in the ring. 3,4 is provided at its lower end with a wheel or handle 84, for turning it manually.y

The actuating mechanism for operating the needle, looper, trimmer and chain cutter, and for turning the carrier and feeding the work to the stitchingV mechanism, is preferably located` as shown, outside of and at the rear of the carrier 4, so as to leave the space withinV the carrier entirely open for the' work and free from lubricated bearings, contact with which would soil and injurew the work, particularly when made of light fabrics of delicate shades.

The2 carrier isl formed at its lower end with an inwardly projecting deflecting rim or fiange 85, which overhangs the ring 3 and keeps the work hanging, therein out of contact with the ring. adjacent to the groove or channel in which the tongue 5 on the carrier works, and which has to be lubricated.

As shown` in Fig. 5,l a groovede plate S6, like or similar to those employed in overstitch sewing machines, is supported on an arm or bracket Vof theI case 20, outside of the carrier, with the grooveA in the plate in alinementy withthe needle 24 with which it cooperates: to direct the loops .inL the thread, formed by the withdrawal of the needle, upwardlyy into the path of the looper 29, the threadv passing to the needle being caught and held by the action ofthe lever 41 on the. tension device 40, while the loops are formed'.

In the operation: of the machine, as the open clamps 46 pass around the front of the machine in the direction indicated by an arrow on Fig. l, the operator places the articles, for example blanks for gloves, in position to be sewed on the carrier. The glove blanks, which are cut with thumb and finger extensions for reinforcement of the thumb and finger tips, are folded and placed over the ring or band 3 at the top of the carrier, wrong' side out, the end of the reinforcing extension which is to be overstitched to the inside of the thumb or finger section projecting a short distance above the ring or' band The clamp 46 is then released by the operator, throwing the handle arm of the associated dog or latch 48 upwardly, as illustrated in Fig. 1,v and is closed against the work, as shown in Fig. 4, by the associated spring 47. In placing the work on the carrier,the guard 63 holds depending portions of the work, such as the finger sections of glove blanks, away from the clamps and associated parts of the carrier, enabling` the operator to more readily grasp and place them one after another, in position on the carrier. After the clamp is closed, the body or main portion of the blank is folded over the upper edge of the ring or band 53, and caught on the points 59 inside of the carrier. As the work passes the trimmer, the upstanding raw edges, such as the edges at the inner ends of the thumb and finger reinforcing extensions, are cut away approximately even with the folds in the work over the ring 53, as shown in Fig. 4. The trimmings are caught and d'efiected away from the work by the flanged plate 7 2.

As the work passes from the trimmer to the stitching mechanism, thetrimmed edges, which are apt to be turned down outwardly and left in that position by the trimmer, are turned back upwardly and inwardly and directed inside of the chaining point 73 by the edge lifter 74, as shown in Fig. 10. The chainingy point 73, as the work progresses alongside thereof, folds the upstanding trimmed edges inwardly and downwardly upon the folds of vthe work over the ring 53, as shown in Fig. 5. The work is thus prepared and held in place for stitching, and as it passes the stitching mechanism, the needle 24 cooperating with the looper 29 overstitches the edges of the reinforcements orothe'r parts of the work tothe underlying folds thereof over the ring 53. As the gaps or spaces between successive pieces or sections of work pass the stitching mechanism, the chaining point 73 carries the stitch across them, thereby forming bonds between successive pieces of sections. As these bonds pass the reciprocating chain cutter, the extension 81 of the arm 76 drops between the adjacent clamps 46, and is thrust forward through the opposite notch in the ring 53' under-V neath the chain connecting adjacent pieces or sections of the work, as shown in Fig. 6, the blades 7 5 being thus carried into operative position to sever the chain or bond.

In case the operator neglects to release the clamps before they pass to the stitching mechanism, the handle arms of the associated dogs or latches 48 will engage with and be turned up by the incline 54, thereby automatically releasing the clamps and permitting them to close before they reach the trimmer and stitching mechanism, and preventing injury to the machine, which would or might result if the clamps were allowed to pass in an open position to the stitching mechanism.

As the work is brought by the carrier opposite the roller 55, the clamps 4G are automatically opened, as shown in Fig. 7 by the engagement of the roller with the lower ends of the clamps, as shown in Fig. 9. When the clamps are opened by the roller 55, the dogs or latches 48 are turned by the p preponderating weight of their handle arms into position against shoulders on the clamps, as shown in Fig. 9, to lock and hold the clamps open until they are released either manually by the operator, or automatically by the incline 54, as hereinbefore explained.

The work being thus released, is automatically withdrawn from the ring 43 over which it is folded, and from the points 59 on which it is caught, by the stripping Vdevice 60, as shown in Fig. 8. When it is released from the carrier, the work falls through or may be caught and conducted away by a delivery device or mechanism (not shown) from the open interior of the carrier, the inwardly projecting rim or flange 85, preventing contact of the work with the ring 3 or that portion of the ring on which the carrier bears, and which is lubricated.

To prevent overthrow of the carrier by the feed mechanism, the machine may be provided with a spring or brake (notV shown) bearing against the carrier.

In case the thread which supplies the stitching mechanism is broken, the carrier may be turned backwardly manually, the power drive having been disconnected and the needle rethreaded in order to stitch such parts of the work as have passed the needle, without removing work held on the carrier by clamps which have passed the stripping Adevice 60, by shifting said stripping device and the roller 55 out of operative position until stitched work is brought back by the feed of the carrier to a point opposite or nearly opposite said roller vand stripping device.

Various changes in the deails of construction and arrangement of parts of the machine to adapt it to work of dilferent kinds, e

may be made, without departure from the l. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a base ring, an open cylindrical work carrier rotatably mounted on said rin@ and provided on the outside with clamps and on the inside with points adapted to hold the work folded over the upper edge thereof, means external to the carrier for turning the same and feeding the lwork thereon to the stitchinng mechanism andmeans for automatically closing and opening the clamps before and after they pass the stitching mechanism.

`2. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a rotary annular work carrier provided with clamps for securing the work in place thereon, means `for rotating the work carrier, and means for automatically closingthe clamps before they pass the stitching mechanism.

3. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a rotary annular work carrier provided with clamps for securing the work in place thereon, means for rotating the work carrier, and means for automatically opening the clamps after they pass the stitching mechanism.

y4. In an overstitch sewing `machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a rotary annular work carrier provided with clamps for securing the work in place thereon, means for rotating the work carrier, means for automatically closing the clamps before they pass the stitching mechanism, and means for automatically opening. the clampsA after they pass the stitching mechanism. v Y y Y Y 5. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a rotary annular Work carrier provided with clamps for securing the work in place thereon, means for rotating the work carrier, means for automatically opening the clamps after they pass the stitching mechanism, and means for manually closing the clamps.

6. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a rotary annular work carrier, means for turning the carrier and feeding the work thereon to the stitching mechanism, clamps for holding the work in place on the carrier, means tending to close the clamps, means for locking the clampsv open, and means for automatically releasing the locking means and permitting the clamps to close before they pass the stitching mechanism.

7. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of

a rotary lannular work carrier, means for means tending@ to close the clamps, means for automatically opening the clamps after they pass the stitching mechanism, and means for automatically ylocking the clamps open and for manually releasing them.

v"8. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, of a rotary annular work carrier, means tor turning the carrier and feeding the work thereon to the stitching mechanism, clamps for holding the work in place on the carrier, means tending to close the clamps, means ifor automaticallyopening the clamps aft-er they passthe stitching mechanism, means tor automatically locking the clamps open, 4and means for automatically shitting the lock-ing means to release and permit the clamps to close as they pass to the stitching mechanism.

9. ln an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism, .of a rotary annular work carrie-r, means for 'turning `said carrier and feeding the work thereon to the stitching mechanism, clam-ps for holding lt-he work in place on the carrier, means Itending `to close the clamps, means for automatically `opening the clamps xaiter they pass lthe stitching mechanism, means for automatically locking theclamps 1in `open position when theyare automaticallyfopened, and means ffor ,automatically shitting the Vlocking means to release the clampsandpen mit them to close as they pass Ato the stitching mechanism, said locking means Vbeing also manually operable at will to open Athe clamps and to release kand 1permit them to close.

10. In an overstitch sewing machine xthe combination with stitching mechanism, lof a rota-ry annular work carrier provided with clamps for securing the work in place there on, means for rotating the werk carrie-rfand means shiftable into out of operative position vfor automatically opening the clamps after they @pass the stitchingfme'chanism.

11. ln an overstitch sewing machine fthe combination with stitching mechanism, ot' a rotary annular work carrier, clamps )for securing the work in place thereon, means for automatically turning 4the carrier and feeding the work thereon to the stitching mechanism, means tor automatically opening the clamps after they pass the stitching mechanism, means vfor manually closing :the clamps, and means for `manually turning the carrier.

V12. ln an oversti-tch sewing machine ythe combination with stitching mechanism com- 'prising -a chaining point for `carrying ,the

' stitch betweenvsuccessive pieces oit work, `'of a work carrier having a notched :edge lon which yt-he workis secured, means for actuating the carrier and feeding the work thereon to the stitching mechanism, and

an upwardly yielding reciprocating cutter adapted to ride lightly vover the workon the notched edge Vand to ,drop into operative :position and pass ,through the notches in said edge for `severing ,the bonds formed by `the stitching mechanism between successive pieces vof work as said notches are brought opposite the cutter.

13. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism,`o aV rotary `annular work carrier provided with clamps for securing the work folded in lplace thereon, 4means =for opening the clamps after they pass the stitching vmechanism, and a stripping device for removing the work from the vcarrier after the clamps are opened.

14. In an oversti-tch sewing mach-ine the combi-nation with stitching mechanism, of la rotary annular work Acarrier :provided with clamps ter securing the work kfolded in place thereon, means lf-or .opening the :clamps .after they pass the stitch-ing mechanism, and la stripping device shitable into and eut of operative posi-tion for removing the work from `the carrier after lit is released by the clamps.

15. ln an overstitch sewing machine the :combi-nation with stitchingy mechanism, of a rotary annular work car-nier, means for rotating the carrier, .clamps 'pivoted fto the outer side :of the .cagrrier, springs tending to press and hold the clamps against lthe carrier, ipivotcd dogs .for opening the clamps, and a stationary incline arranged to turn the dogs into position to release and permit 4the clamps to close before they pass to the stitching mechanism.

v1'6. ln an overstitch sewing machine the combination lwith stitching mechanism, `of a rotary annular work carrier, means for rotating 4the carrier, clamps `pivotally `mounted on the carrier, springs tending to close the clamps, a lrelatively stationary member adapted to :open the clamps after they pass the stitching'mechanism, and ,dogs for holding the clamps open.

17. In an overstitch sewing machinethe combination with stitching mechanism, lol:

a rotary Vannular work carrier, imeans tor rotating 'the carrier,clamps pivotally .mounted on the carrier, springs tending .to close the clamps, a roller shiftable into and out of operative position and adapted in voperative position to 'open the clamps .after they 120 pass the stitching mechanism, and dogs tor 'holding the cla-mps open.

18. ln an overstiftch sewing `machine .the combination of stitching mechanism `comprising a chaining point for carrying the stitch between successive pieces :of work, of a rotary annular work carrier ,having a notched rim to which the work is secured, means for V`turning the carrier., and an upwardly yielding reciprocating cutter limited in its downward movement and adapted to ride lightly on the notched rim and to drop into operative position and pass through the notches in said -rim for severing the bonds formed by the stitching mechanism between successive pieces of work as said notches are brought opposite the cutter.

19. In an overstitch sewing machine the combination with stitching mechanism comprising a chaining point for carrying the stitch between successive pieces of work, of a rotary annular carrier provided with clamps having beveled ends and a rim to which the work is clamped having notches between the clamps, and an upwardly yielding reciprocating chain cutter limited in its downward movement and adapted to ride lightly over the work on the notched rim and over the beveled ends of the clamps,

and to drop into operative position and pass through the notches in the carrier rim as the spaces between the clamps are brought opposite the cutter.

20. In an overstitch sewing machine the and means for removing the work from the carrier shiftable out of and into operative position, and means for manually turning the carrier backward. y

In witness whereof I hereto a'HiX my signature.

HUMPHREY EVANS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

